maintenance schedule.

[Lazy7]

Can somebody help me put together a maintenance schedule for my bike? i'm thinking it might be a good resource for other members as well.

so its a sports bike, and i am thinking in K's and having 17k on the clock is well and truly run in.

so - when/how often should you check.

Crankcase oil: how often and do you engine flush? recommendation on oil?
Gearbox oil: how often and recommendation on gearbox oil?
Chain and sprokets: recommendation on care?
Brake pads (just when worn? whats the minimum thickness or do they have indicators?)
SparkPlugs: i guess the ones that are recommended for the bike?
Carbs: (how often do you need to get them re-tuned?) do they have internal parts that wear? or just need to be re-tuned and sync'd up again?
Tyres i guess are obvious.
Do you run 98, 96 or 91?
Oil filter (i guess with oil change)
Air filter. how often? do most of you upgrade asap to K&N panels? they are washable mostly so good money saver.
Fuel filter. how long do these last?

is there such a thing as a wheel alignment on a bike?

anything i am missing on general service stuff?

cheers guys,

[limbimtimwim]

Can somebody help me put together a maintenance schedule for my bike?

Perhaps get the Haynes manual for your bike, they did publish one for the ZX7-R(R). Get technical book store to get in a copy for you. Or maybe try the public library. My Haynes manual has suggested service / check intervals and, you guessed it, instructions on how to do them.

Not the most awesome book ever. The instructions often jump from 'Undo bolt, arrowed' to 'Discombobulate the uber-inner-outer-combobulator using Smiths method. Never use the Haast method because of the dylithium crystals contained in the warp core'. I swear there is a warp core hiding between the cylinder heads somewhere... Just it needs turning on.

But worth the money anyway!

[myvice]

WARNING! This is just what I do, others will tell you that I’m wrong, but they are all homosexuals or communists and can’t be trusted!

I do oil and filter every 5,000ks. (Motor and gearbox use the same oil)
Air-filter every 10,000 with a clean out every 5k. K&N is a bonus if you can find one, will have to re tune the bike after tho.
Spark plugs, I run NGK iridium’s and change them every 30,000ks, they last for about 80-100,000ks in a car but I don’t drive like I ride!
Chain is a hard one to explain, if it sounds like a concrete mixer (like mine) then change it and do the sprockets too.
The chain should move up and down about 30mm with you sitting on the bike.
Carbs do need re-setting every now and then, wouldn’t be too concerned about them wearing out till it hits the 20-year mark.
Break pads, if under 3mm of material then change them, check the disc for minimum thickness. You will have to ring the dealer for the specks.
Fuel filter, if you have one, every 10,000 with the air filter. If you don’t then put one on!
Fuel, I run 98 when I can.
Tuning, take it to a bike shop, I do and I'm stupid enough to be a mechanic!
But they have a lot of bike specific gear and cool toys like a dino!

Everyone can now tell you that I'm an opinionated wanker and should be shot!
But this is what I do and have done on all of my bikes, but we all have our own ideas on what is good practice and what isn’t.
But, DO THE OIL!!! And use good oil, I pay $60 for 4 lts! But I only use 3 lts per change so every 4th change is free, sort of...

[Pixie]

Crankcase oil: how often and do you engine flush? recommendation on oil?
Gearbox oil: how often and recommendation on gearbox oil?
Chain and sprokets: recommendation on care? Buy one of my fantastic chain oilers $250 cheap!
Brake pads (just when worn? whats the minimum thickness or do they have indicators?)
SparkPlugs: i guess the ones that are recommended for the bike?
Carbs: (how often do you need to get them re-tuned?) do they have internal parts that wear? or just need to be re-tuned and sync'd up again?
Tyres i guess are obvious.
Do you run 98, 96 or 91?
Oil filter (i guess with oil change)
Air filter. how often? do most of you upgrade asap to K&N panels? they are washable mostly so good money saver.
Fuel filter. how long do these last?

is there such a thing as a wheel alignment on a bike?

[scumdog]

Daily: Check head/tail/brake lights etc and look for any fluid leaks.

Weekly: Check oil and tyre condition/pressure

Monthly: Check brake-pads and chain for wear and tension, check brake/clutch fluids.

Distance: 5,000km dump oil and filter and put new filter and GOOD oil in.

Six Monthly: Check swing-arm and steering head bearings, adjust clutch lever and (if needed) foot and hand-brake levers, also get wheel bearings checked.

There's more but a weekly washing will also help to pick up 'changes' in you bike and any loose nuts/bolts etc.

[Lazy7]

thanks guys - so, what is good oil?

[scumdog]

thanks guys - so, what is good oil?

See your handbook or brand dealer and start there for advice.

[TygerTung]

Check your oil every time you fill up with gas.

I'd be doing oil and filter every 3k, remember bike engines are a lot more highly stressed than cages, I do my cages every 5K.